Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Firstly, I would
like to acknowledge the Elders of the Traditional Owners of this
land past and present.

Citizens of the
Planet, and Fellow Australians.

Australians come
from all the lands on Earth, and I have come here from the islands of Kiribati, in the mid most heart of the Pacific Ocean.

Kiribati was once the British Colony of the Gilbert Islands, Kiribati is the first nation upon which the sun
rises in the morning, the first to see the new day, and now among the first
Nations which include its sister Tuvalu, to be lost to Climate
Change.

For the people
never heard of Kiribati
before, it consists of 33 atolls, averaging only two metres above sea level. It
has a population of over 112,000 people.

I was born on the island of Tarawa in a village called Betio.

During the 2nd
World War, Betio was bombarded with tons of bombs such that Coconut trees and
other vegetation were totally destroyed, but replanting took place, the trees
grew back, and the people survived.

It was a situation
brought upon our people by others. It wasn’tour war, but traumatized our nation.

But now the people
of Kiribati
are finding themselves in a new war of a different and more devastating kind. A
war that threatens to eliminate our homeland from the face of the Earth.Again, a war not of our making, but brought
upon us by others.

Because the
average height of the islands is only 2 metres above sea level, the rising
oceans have now led to salt water seeping into the ground water, making it
undrinkable, and poisoning the trees, whose roots have depended on it for thousands
of years. Scientists are predicting that it will probably take 50 years or less
for the islands to be uninhabitable.

I’ve seen dead
coconut trees, their tops completely missing, so that they looked like twisted
Telegraph poles on a desert landscape. But they weren’t just coconut trees. These
trees were the framework and walls of our buildings, the mats on our floors,
the blinds on our windows, the decorations on our dancing costumes, and a primary
source of food; then there were dead pandanus trees, which not only represented
a food source, but the thatch on the roofs of our houses, the mats on our
floors, and the costumes of our dancers.

Our President
reluctantly plans the closure of his country finding options for people to live
as dignified human beings elsewhere in the world.

When the time
comes for I-Kiribati people to be relocated they want to do so on merit and
with dignity.

Education of
children in Kiribati
schools is going to need to prepare children for the fact that in their adult
life, they might need to work and live overseas.

To quote the
President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, the people of Kiribati will not go to the world
as refugees, but as World Citizens.

They have a right
to live on this Planet which cannot be denied them by climate change. There
needs to be special laws passed in all
the nations on Earth including Australia, and enforced by the United Nations
that automatically allow people from countries, wiped off the map by sea levels
to live on dry land somewhere as a right that overrides point systems.

For what people
may say about human rights and the like, the most basic human right must surely
be the right to live at all.

But abandoning the
nation of Kiribati
is a very last resort. There are projects underway to preserve the islands by
planting mangroves, developing salt resistant plants, building sea walls and
boosting rain water harvesting.

Fellow Australians
and Citizens of the Planet, the world is at war, and the enemy lies not within
in the melting ice caps and the rising seas, but within ourselves.

The trenches
within which this battle must be fought do not lie between the borders of
nations, or between the major political parties or their factions, but within
the heart of every human being on this planet.

During the two
devastating wars of the last century, extra taxes were paid, war bonds were
purchased, and in too many cases the ultimate sacrifice of lives, and loved
ones was made, and made willingly by people the world over to defend their
lands from destruction.

We are not being
asked to sacrifice as much as our grandparents did during World War 2, yet the
danger we face as millions of people are dislocated around the world and
nations lost forever is potentially far more devastating.

And in the final
analysis, combating climate change is a moral responsibility, for if we would
not want our country to disappear from the face of the earth through the
actions of others, so ought we to strive, to ensure, that the countries of
others do not disappear from the face of the Earth because of our failure to do what is right.

To quote President
Anote Tong of Kiribati
this problem requires a New World Order, which is based on compassion, humanity,
and a long term vision.

Let us human
beings the world over accept the moral responsibility, face the challenges,
make the necessary sacrifices. And at the end of the day it really doesn’t
matter how you believe Climate Change is occurring, whether by the actions of
man, or nature, because the fact is, it is really happening and its impact on
my homeland and other people around the world must be addressed.

Further there are
long term benefits to Mankind in less reliance on fossil fuel, and reduction of
carbon emissions.

For Australia to do
nothing while we wait for the world to act, is no different to us as
individuals, refusing to reduce our own carbon foot prints until every body
else does.

This is very
foolish it is time for us to lead and set examples.

Finally, my fellow
Australians, who come from all the lands on Earth, and have cousins in all the
nations of the Earth, it is time to acknowledge the reality of the human
family, and that The Earth is but One Country and humankind its citizens.

That is the
philosophy; that is the outlook; from which will come the political will to
address the issue of climate change.

We must accept
responsibility ourselves, not wait for our leaders who have let us down, but
lead the way ourselves and make it absolutely clear to themembers of our parliament that Climate Change
is a paramount issue in the hearts and minds of our people.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

The new Lock the Gate documentary ‘Fractured Country’ will be shown for the first time in Boonah at 6.30pm on Friday 13 June at Unit 7 at the Outlook.

This ground breaking documentary gives the first clear, compelling, factual overview about the impacts of coal seam gas (CSG) mining and coal mining on Australian communities, particularly rural and regional communities, farmers and our natural environment.

It features the stories of people whose lives have been changed forever by CSG mining on their land as well as highlights the groundswell of grassroots community action to stop the industry from ruining lives and communities across Australia.

The film will be shown within a concert by professional musician Paul Robert Burton.

Paul performs a highly eclectic solo repertoire of originals and unusual traditional musical pieces that blend together blues, Celtic, gypsy, Middle Eastern, gospel, bluegrass, swing, jazz and folk-rock influences together into an evocative musical soundscape. He combines rich vocals, traditional acoustic instruments and modern technology to perform music as the universal language of unity.

Paul said, “Over the past three years I have been travelling to communities affected by corporate mining and industry and using my music to inspire, connect and empower people and communities.

“I have also been promoting local solutions: local enterprise, local food and local economy; health and well-being; resource self-sufficiency and resilience; return to nature; and voluntary simplicity in ways that support Gandhi’s focus of ‘being the change you want to see in the world’.

“I work closely with the Lock the Gate Alliance and “Fractured Country” filmmaker David Lowe and have met and stood alongside many of the people and communities featured in the film.

“My music and stories from these communities will inspire and support the people of the Scenic Rim to continue their vigilance to protect this amazing region from mining and industrialisation,” Paul said.

Lock The Gate Alliance is a national coalition of community groups from across Australia who are uniting to protect our common heritage - our land, water and future - from reckless coal and gas expansions. In a David-and-Goliath struggle of farmers against mining giants, everyday citizens against global corporations, these communities are choosing grace under fire and displaying incredible courage, integrity and imagination.

The ‘Fractured Country’ film and concert will be held at Unit 7 at the Outlook at 6.30pm on Friday June 13. Entry is by a suggested donation of $10 (children are free), and will include light refreshments, but feel free to bring a plate to share. For further information or to book your seats call Julie Jackson on 0435 992 798 or email boonahboss@hotmail.com

The fifth World Environment Day Festival was certainly a huge success.

From the moving traditional acknowledgment to the closing strains of the live entertainment, there was fun, laughter, learning and so much joy in the day, which focused on thinking about climate change and its impact on the small island developing states.

The Kirabati connection was strong and the moving address by Wanita from the Kiribati Australia Association brought tears to many eyes. She spoke of the plight of the low lying Kiribati island mass, being one of the most isolated countries in the world and one of the most vulnerable to climate change in rising sea levels. Wanita explained how rising sea levels had already affected their land with coconut trees upon which they rely for food, clothing and shelter, no longer able to survive on land which is either underwater or suffering from salinity problems. She told the crowd that in perhaps less than 50 years, their country will not be habitable.

Sally Mackinnon officially opened the festival and presented organisers with the community painting that was created at the 2011 festival as part of The Rim Art and Ecology Project with Sally and artists John Jackson and Dave Groom. Sally also recited the poem that she put together with input from the community.

There were so many highlights of the day, but certainly one for many was the Junkyard Dogs Upcycled Marching Band. Armed with upcycled blue water containers and wearing helmets decorated with all manner of things such as flowers, old CD racks, and metal kitchenalia, the band marched through the venue grounds beating their drums to the chant of ‘raise your voice, not the sea level’.

The live entertainment was very impressive with songs especially written for the day. ‘The Soundies’, the team who got together to manage the music on the day, wrote ‘Sea Levels Rising’ and ‘Keep it in the Ground’ which were extremely popular. The Babbling Trillbilly’s also performed six incredibly entertaining new songs including a sometimes hilarious focus on recycling and the environment. The Kiribati Dancers were also a huge hit.

Visitors were impressed with the array of displays and stalls and marvelled at the variety, originality and creativity of the artisans.

Feedback continues to roll in, but my favourite would have to be “thank you for the best day of the year in Boonah”

Organisers are now working on collecting feedback to build on for next year’s event.

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About Me

Focusing on the values, principles, & aspirations which underpin a sustainable future, BOSS is committed to ensuring our community has a vibrant, caring & green future with a visible connection & celebration of its past and the natural environment.